Middletown Hosts Annual Menorah Lighting at MAC
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 Pictured from left: Committeewoman Kimberly Kratz, Mayor Tony Perry, Rabbi Shmaya Galperin, Middletown Police Chief Craig Weber, Monmouth County Surrogate Maureen Raisch, and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger |
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Thank you to everyone who came to our annual Chanukah Menorah Lighting at the Middletown Arts Center (MAC) on Thursday! The event began inside the MAC where attendees were able to make arts and crafts and enjoy donuts and latkes. Mayor Tony Perry and Rabbi Shmaya Galperin of the Chabad Jewish Center of Holmdel gave speeches in the MAC's gallery, and then everyone moved outdoors where there was a special fire juggling show. Mayor Perry was then honored to light the shamash (helper candle) of Middletown's menorah before a yeshiva student from the Chabad Jewish Center of Holmdel lit two other ones. Happy Chanukah to everyone who celebrates! |
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Community Comes Together to Pack & Deliver Middletown Helps Its Own's Christmas Donations
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 Belford Engine Company Station 3 teamed up with Middletown Helps Its Own to deliver toys and food across town. (Photo courtesy of MTFD Station 3) |
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Prior to Christmas, Committeewoman Kimberly Kratz and many other volunteers worked tirelessly with local nonprofit Middletown Helps Its Own to pack nearly 400 boxes of food and bags of toys for Middletown families who needed a little extra assistance this Christmas. After the boxes were packed, members of the Middletown Township Fire Department (MTFD) and Middletown Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department dropped off all the donations. We hope everyone who celebrates Christmas enjoyed the holiday! |
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 Station 5 and Middletown First Aid and Rescue Squad delivered packages for Middletown Helps Its Own. (Photo courtesy of EMS) |
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Smokers Boxing Gym Hosts Christmas Party
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 Mayor Tony Perry and Committeewoman Kimberly Kratz show off their new gloves with USA-certified amateur boxing trainers Paul Dunleavy and Joe Zaccardo! |
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Last week, Mayor Tony Perry and Committeewoman Kimberly Kratz attended Smokers Boxing Gym's (872 Leonardville Road, Leonardo) Christmas party. Attendees were able to celebrate the USA-certified boxing program with a visit from former Light Middleweight Champ Mark Medal! |
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Reorganization Meeting Set for Sunday, 1/5 at 10 AM
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Middletown to Sign Sister City Pact with Ofakim, Israel on Monday, 1/6 at 11 AM
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Mayor Tony Perry and Ofakim, Israel Mayor Itzik Danino will be signing a sister city pact to symbolically unite the two cities they govern. Mayor Perry first met with Mayor Danino in January 2024 when he visited Ofakim following the aftermath of October 7, 2023. Middletown lost 37 residents on September 11, 2001 – and continues to feel the impacts from that fateful day. As a result of their communities’ experiences with terrorism and grief, Mayor Perry and Mayor Danino quickly built a friendship. This sister city agreement, which will be the first one in Middletown’s history, will represent the two cities’ commitment to fostering cultural, educational, and economic bonds. The Middletown Township Committee encourages community members to attend this event. |
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Additional Daily Parking Now Available at Main Train Station Parking Lot
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 The new parking spaces are marked with yellow striping. |
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To address the need for more daily parking for commuters, the Middletown Department of Public Works has added new parking spaces (numbered 300-519) to the large train station lot located off Middletown-Lincroft Road near the satellite recycling center. These new spaces feature yellow striping. New signage will be installed soon, but the zone, cost, and instructions on how to start a parking session remain the same. The zone number is 12501 and parking costs $5 per day via the mPay2Park app. After you open the app, you need to log in to your account, click "Park", and choose your license plate. Then, enter your zone/space and duration and click on "Start Now". |
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MTFD Shares Live Christmas Tree Safety Tips
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This holiday season, the Middletown Township Fire Department (MTFD) and Middletown Fire Prevention would like to provide residents with tips on how to take care of real Christmas trees. Click HERE to watch their Public Service Announcement on YouTube. |
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Locally Sourced Giveaway Winner Announced
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Earlier this year, Mayor Tony Perry launched his podcast, Locally Sourced! In the last episode of 2024, Mayor Perry sat down with local stand-up comedian Vinnie Brand. Vinnie, who also owns the Stress Factory Comedy Club, generously signed one of our exclusive Locally Sourced caps. After the episode aired, we hosted a giveaway on Instagram for people to enter a chance to win the cap. Anthony Dellatacoma, who is a detective first class with the Middletown Township Police Department, won the giveaway. Thank you to everyone who participated and for supporting the show that brings you the best recap of Middletown happenings and business spotlights. Stay tuned for more giveaways in 2025!
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Renew Your Dog License Between Wednesday, 1/1 and Friday, 1/31
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Our pet licensing portal is currently unavailable. The portal will open again for 2025 licensing on Wednesday, January 1st. Thank you for your patience! Visit middletownnj.org/petlicensing for more information. |
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With dog license renewals beginning on Wednesday, Middletown Animal Control would like to remind residents about the benefits of licensing your dog! Throughout the month of January, we will be sharing these advantages via our communications channels. Be sure to follow Middletown Township on Facebook, Instagram, and X! |
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Pre-Register Now for Middletown Animal Control's Free Dog Rabies Clinic Happening on Saturday, 1/18
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Want to Give Back? Register Now for Middletown Township Health Department and NJ Blood Services' Blood Drive on Thursday, 1/9
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Give the gift of life this holiday season by donating blood! Middletown is partnering with New Jersey Blood Services to host a blood drive at Town Hall. According to New York Blood Services, someone needs blood every two seconds. It is important to have blood available 24/7 for emergencies as well as ongoing, life-sustaining needs for patients battling chronic diseases. Since blood cannot be synthetically made, there is no substitute – only volunteer donors can give the gift of life. Help make a difference by making an appointment today at nybc.org/drive and use the sponsor code 72770! |
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New Year, New Hobby: Make an Artistic Resolution and Register Now for MAC's Winter Classes!
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Registration for the Middletown Arts Center's (MAC) winter 2025 classes has officially opened! Pick up a hobby and sign up for a class in theater, dance, art, or music. Classes begin Thursday, January 2nd. Click HERE to view the youth classes and click HERE to view the adult classes. |
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Kick Off the New Year with Vision Boards at the MTPL
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Looking to begin the new year with a good start? Come to the Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL) to join Reference Librarian Katie K. as she goes over how to create a vision board, monthly goals, and gratitude journals for 2025! This fun event will take place in the MTPL's Community Room (55 New Monmouth Road) on Thursday, January 2nd at 7 PM and Tuesday, January 7th at 11 AM. Registration is required as supplies are limited. The first session is booked, but there is a waiting list. The second session is still available. Click HERE for more information and to register for the second session. |
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Attend the Middletown Preschool Fair on Wednesday, 1/8 from 5-7 PM
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Finding the perfect preschool for your child can be tough, so we're here to help! Middletown Recreation is bringing preschools throughout the town together in one place for your convenience. Representatives from various schools will be at the Middletown Township Public Library (55 New Monmouth Road) to speak about class options, program structure, and answer any questions you may have. Click HERE to view a list of featured schools. |
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Register for Middletown Recreation's Maple Tree Tapping Event Happening Wednesday, 1/29 from 4-5 PM
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Join Middletown Recreation at Poricy Park (345 Oak Hill Road) to drill holes, hammer in tappers, and hang buckets - the first steps of making maple syrup! Click HERE for more information and to register. |
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Sign Up for Middletown Recreation's Daddy-Daughter Winter Ball Happening Friday, 1/31 & Saturday, 2/1
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Middletown Recreation's Daddy-Daughter Dance returns to Jacques Banquet Hall (500 Palmer Avenue) on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st! Join us for a winter ball with a DJ, buffet, photo booth, surprises, and more! Registration is now open on RecDesk. Click HERE for more information and to register. |
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- As part of the replacement of a bridge structure, Whipporwill Valley Road will be closed to traffic for a period of 90 consecutive calendar days. The project began on Monday, December 2nd and a detour will be in place during the closing period. The bridge area at Whipporwill Valley Road will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic during the allowed closing period. Vehicular and pedestrian access to all residences and businesses within the project limits will be maintained during construction.
- Beginning January 6, 2025, Broadway will be closed between Main Street (Port Monmouth) and Church Street (Belford) due to construction of the final phase of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Port Monmouth Flood Control Project. Broadway will be closed for approximately 2 years. Detours will be posted. Port Monmouth Road between Main Street (Port Monmouth) and Church Street (Belford) will be re-opened in late January (weather permitting), providing an alternate detour route for the Broadway closure.
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Upper Navesink River Channel Dredging Project Continues
On November 21st, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced the Upper Navesink River Channel dredging project that began in early December in Middletown. Dredging operations are expected to be completed in January 2025. Work is being conducted during daylight hours on a 7-days-a-week schedule. The area roads are expected to remain open through the duration of the project. Click HERE to read NJDOT's press release for more information.
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Register for Middletown's Emergency Alerts & Updates
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How to Protect Your Pipes During the Colder Months
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Now that it is officially winter, we encourage you to take some preventative measures to avoid frozen pipes! In the graphic above, American Water provides some helpful tips. In addition to avoiding frozen pipes, it is also important to keep in mind that you should not pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain. You should dispose of them in the trash instead. This tip should be practiced year-round, but is especially relevant during the holiday season when family and friends tend to be gathering together for meals more often. Click HERE to watch a video about unwelcome holiday guests – fats, oils, and grease! |
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Prepare Your Home for Winter Storms with Flood Insurance and Precautionary Steps
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Middletown Floodplain Management encourages residents to purchase flood insurance and winterize their homes by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic. Remember to clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks, and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or neighboring structure during or following a storm. Keep pathways and driveways clear between storms to avoid buildup of snow piles and icing. Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. |
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Apply Now for Township's Free Tutoring Program for Income-Eligible Households
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Middletown Township is offering free tutoring services through the Next Generation Support Program to students from income-eligible households who have fallen behind academically due to the pandemic. The program has begun, but the Township is still accepting applications. Visit middletownnj.org/ngsp for more information and to apply. |
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Know Someone with a Disability? Make Sure They Register with NJ Register Ready!
Middletown’s Office of Emergency Management encourages residents with disabilities to register with NJ Register Ready. This free program is designed to assist first responders and emergency planners in identifying community members who may need assistance evacuating in advance of an emergency. For more information about the program and the three ways you can register, visit middletownnj.org/oem.
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Click HERE to access hi-res photos from thise-newsletter. |
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Verizon FiOS Channel 26/Comcast Cable Channel 20
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